Hollywood-via-San Diego musical theatre gay Adam Lambert had what the audience and judges declared to be the best performance of the night. For Michael Jackson Week, Lambert performed “Black Or White.” Hopefully the voting audience won’t care if he’s gay or straight. (Likely, they’re not as wise as you.)
[flv:https://www.queerty.com/media/American_Idol_-_Adam_Lambert_-_Black_And_White_-_Michael_Jackson.mp4 https://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/2009/03/lambertvidbboard.jpg 500 320]
geoff
I wanna root for him, I really do, but I just don’t get his appeal. He was pretty good tonight but not even close to being the best.
rogue dandelion
this performance was irony caked on irony- I hope he wins, this show is just so ridiculous!
Jon B
I’ve been a big fan of his for a few years now. He’s incredible. I can’t even believe anyone could say he wasn’t the best by a landslide last night. And I love that after those pictures came out, he basically looked at the camera tonight and sang, if you don’t believe in equality you’re just wrong. His performance was just absolutely incredible.
Stenar
I thought he was truly awful tonight. I wondered if the judges were high or something.
Skyler
I don’t get his appeal personally, he seems like he’s a nice guy but his sound is not modern/contemporary. In fact here he sounds like he was sent from the 70s. Is he this years Amanda Oldmejier(or whatever her name is)? I don’t see him going that far.
hardmannyc
Yeah because who wins a reality tV show really matters!
osocubano
I don’t get it.
Why would anyone want to hear this?
Sebbe
I’ve never seen American Idol besides clips. I sometimes feel like the only person in America who hasn’t. This guy reminds me of a Jonas brother. Fail. Why can’t they make AI more like Eurovision. Think about it, California versus New York, Rhode Island versus um South Dakota!!
Does anyone know how to get ahead of Paula’s dealer? I did watch her show, cause that shit was event television.
ChristopherM
I thought he absolutely screeched that song, and was shocked as hell by the judges’ reaction to him. He seems like a nice kid, but as I’ve said before, he seems less like a rock star than like a talented Broadway actor playing a rock star. I want to root for him, especially after those photos came out, but I just don’t enjoy his performances at all.
Ed
His performance was leaps and bounds above everyone else’s. I thought his singing was just OK, but the performance was mindblowing. And when he looked straight in the camera and screamed “Equality” I almost fell out of the chair. To get such a barely veiled reference so blatantly on camera, he must be kicking hard at that closet door Idol tries so hard to keep closed every year.
Tuscguy23
There are some things in life that just come down to fact and the fact is that Adam Lambert can SING! If you disagree there is something wrong with your hearing ability. You would more than likely be one of the people who would vote for the horrible comical auditions. This guy should not even be on the show he should be touring and recording already. Just thought I should give my professional opinion on the matter.
Karl
He really has been the best contestant so far. Very comfortable on stage and a great performer. And he’s FAMILY…That’s always a PLUS!
Chris
I cannot stand him. Gay/straight regardless, he is so affected I want to scream.
dellisonly
Sadly his was the best performance of the night and it wasn’t even good enough to be considered mediocre.
SONNIE
I think Adam was great. After reading the negative comments about him, i guess it is true that there is just NO pleasing some BITCHES.
Nick
I can’t stand how Lil Rounds, Danny Gokey, and Adam Lambert are being shoved down our throats because the AI powers that be have decided they’re the best.
I really can’t stand Adam. I will agree that he can sing, but everything is so Meatloaf over the top, I really cannot take him seriously. Plus, the way he mugs and “makes love to the camera” is just so Constantine. Ugh, it makes me want to change the channel. He’s a hot mess…and NOT in a good way.
I refuse to support him just because he’s gay. Sorry folks…
Hint
Love him. And Allison. Everyone else is Booooring. Get over yourselves haters.
rsquared
Screw the singing. Who’s the most fuckable?
Keith
Please please please. Enough of him. Isn’t Jeorge a gay can’t we root for him instead. Or maybe we can be ironic and root for the straight redneck.
Sam
Saw AI for the first time last night and all I could think of when Adam was performing is that he’d be a good choice to play Freddie Mercury in that Queen show. Other than that, meh.
Alan down in Florida
@ChristopherM: I will second this remark completely. It’s like he wants to be the leader of an 80s screaming metal hair band.
Jim
The one thing Adam has over all of the bitter queens posting here is that he’s talented as holy hell, and we’re not. He has a voice that is part Axl Rose, part Freddie Mercury, and the rest his own. And he’s openly gay as far as I can tell. He might or might not be ready to be a poster boy, but who cares. He’s got it. Whether or not you like his style is a matter of taste, but you can’t deny the guy’s massive gifts. That’s a voice you have to be born with.
Gay men are completely, totally, irrationally vicious when judging other gay men. It’s revolting. Wonder why there are no gay male superstars? Because gay men tear them down, that’s why. We’re all too busy worshiping marginally talented women like Margaret Cho or Kathy Griffin or some fat black diva who uses our support as a career move and nothing more. But a talented gay man comes along and we trash him. God forbid he’s not “fuckable.” Who needs the homophobes when we have ourselves to do the dirty work?
David
I must say that I pretty much HATED his performance of “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” a couple weeks ago. I was afraid I wasn’t going to like him. (I don’t want to route for him just because he’s gay lol)
However, after last nights performance I do like him. I thought he sounded and looked great, and I agreed with what the Judges said. I think he was way better than everyone else last night.
I really like Allison a lot too. I don’t like Danny Gokey for some reason, or Scott. I thought Lil Rounds did well last night too.
Jon B
@Alan down in Florida: You’re crazy, he’s 70’s not 80’s… glam rock a la queen or david bowie circa Space Oddity.
Dude has an amazing and powerful voice, and he’s not afraid to camp it up and entertain. Watch out for him. He’s going far.
P.S. There are so many bitter bitter queens out there?
Jon B
Scratch that question mark.
KIRA LEE
WHAT AN ASSHOLE
Joe
I wish he would stop screaming at me every week. Oh, and less eyeliner please.
Joe
@Alan down in Florida: Amen
Keith
I think what bugs me about him is I don’t think he is really portraying who he is. It all seems to contrived with the hair and the clothes. I keep expecting something edgeier but I get disappointed. I feel he’s pulling the wool over my eyes.
I look forward to what he does with Jesus Christ Superstar if they do an Andrew Loyd Weber week. It seems he’s better suited for Broadway or pop. I just can’t make the connection between the way he looks and the way he sounds. He should sing pop because that’s what he’s good at, not rock. His screaming is unpleasant and forces me to press the fast forward button.
I think gays are critical because he is gay. There are plenty of gay guys and girls out there who are doing what he does but better. We only want to see the most talented because we are the most talented. We have high expectations and we are fiercely loyal. We are the market that keeps the has-beens in business and we are the catalysts for the comebacks (Cher ring a bell, anyone and we’ll check back with Miley in 10 years after her tweens have grown up). At least that’s the way it’s been, but I could be wrong. Thanks for reading this far
rick
I agree we have seen this one trick pony before, but teens and pre-teens love him and defend him. for this I say rock on adam!
Renee
I have to say that I am a total fan of his. I didn’t even know that he was gay until someone twitted it at me. I think he has an awesome raw talent and is sexy to the point of chocolate cheesecake. Of all of the contestants I would most like to see him win.
MattieC
1st- JIM you are exactly correct. I’ve completely agree with you. I’ve worked with Adam in Europe and I have to say that this kid has raw talent that very few new artists posses. He has an amazing vocal range and can demand immediate attention whenever do a simple task such as walking into a room. (Not to mention when he’s onstage, RIDICULOUS)
and now to KEITH- you mention, “There are plenty of gay guys and girls out there who are doing what he does but better.” yet you don’t include any reference to who you’re speaking of. The Entertainment industry is very tough on individuals who want to show any sign letting on to the fact that they’re gay. They’re shoved back into the closet and forced to become someone that they’re not, i.e. Clay Aiken. How many times did we have to hear him say, “I’m not gay.” He should be celebrated for honestly representing himself. Adam is being true to himself. What you see is what you get. Yeah he’s a little out there but no experienced person in the industry will argue the fact that this boy has FIERCE talent.
sal
i dont watch american idol,never watched an episode.i saw this video above and he sounds cool,differently cool
Keith
@MattieC: If you want to talk about out gay talent. Look a Jay Brannan, Ari Gold, Cazwell, Granted maybe not mainstream enough but they are openly gay.
I may be missing something but Adam has never said he was gay so I say he isn’t officially out. We all just clocked it, oh and there are those photos. We will see if he does make an announcement. BTW Will Young came out immediately in the UK.
I think you may be biased since you “worked with him”, in Europe no less. I don’t doubt he has talent I just don’t get the way he performs. I think he may be trying too hard. His whole look and presence doesn’t seem authentic to me. I was expecting something darker and more soulful. If he been showing his true talent I’m disappointed. It seems forced. Almost like Stewart from MAD TV “Look what I can do”. It’s all very showie I just want him to sing a song.
I got a oh but brief glimpse of his potential when he reinterpreted Believe and I was almost sold on him. I just haven’t been impressed lately, however, I will keep watching and hope that I am wrong.
mz.spears
@Karl:
congrats!!! He’s an amazing stage performer & shuld go ver far (if not win!) the show
Ben
?@osocubano: One of the worst songs ever written and this Paula chick is out of her effing gourd.
MattieC
@Keith: Thanks for giving him another chance. And yes, I’m a little biased. When working with Adam I always knew he was going to be successful in the business. He has the talent and a beautiful personality to match. You have to remember that he comes from a theatrical back ground. Musical theatre performers are sometimes over the top. They’re accustomed to performing for a large audience. He’s learning how to perform on television. This is not learned over night. Give him some time and we’ll see his transformation. One thing that’s always impressed me about him is his willingness to learn. Also, as far as being “showie and look what I can do”…isn’t AI a competition? He’s fighting for his life and I hope he can sail through with even the most conservative viewers.
Sebbe
hahaha – just saw that this is the first time they have had 13 instead of 12. Well they mistakenly announced 1800idol???13 and it was a phone sex line. Opps. Wonder how many people called.
Bill in PDX
Simply love him. He is gorgeous, genuine and charismatic and his voice is stunning.
He is my type; I love the nelly boys. i was one in my youth. Some of us are just more femme than others and we are often more kind than most folk. I think he is the real thing.
Robert
This guy is entertainment personified, showbiz on a stick. He gets a huge reaction. So many performers on Idol are just “eh, so what?” Bland and trying to be a star. This guy’s the real thing, and he’s already getting love him or hate him reviews, which means he’s a topic of conversation. He’s got the charisma, mystery, charm, sexiness, rawness, everything. If he plays it right he could go all the way. I just spent an hour checking out his YouTube clips and I was transfixed, and I seldom care about any of this stuff.
The gay factor may be a problem because American is so shallow and stupid. Clay Aiken risked losing his whole fan base by coming out. Melinda Doolittle should have won over Jordin Sparks 2 years ago, but Melinda has no neck and doesn’t have the sexy star quality demanded of women. Think of it – Ella Fitzgerald would never make it today because she doesn’t look like Tyra Banks.
If I were Adam, I’d keep a lid on it and just be demure and discreet when asked the question. Then, after he wins, flame on baby!
Scotty
I think Adam is pretty decent and marketable but I don’t connect with him as much as I do a couple of others. I would like to see a gay idol for a change though.
kati
2 weeks ago the performance was already so good, this week.. oh my.. come on, he is good. He is amazing. I only hope he can keep his great performance all the way to the final.
I am not gay, but I like him. Do I care he is or not? not at all. Is that matter he is or not? not at all. He is an amazing artist. I won’t be surprised if someday he becomes a superstar.
Miley Crisis
Gross.
He creeps me out.
GENE
@Miley Crisis:
I guarantee she is 100 times hotter than you.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Kl7yL_h95qc/SYuIhcSDERI/AAAAAAAAMf4/Me5i319EYs0/s400/110ls8h.jpg
Chris
Hmm..I think Adam is a great talent. I’m not gay but stumbled on this site and was surprised by the hostility directed toward Adam Lambert by some posters here. Maybe the reason some gays resent him is because of his appeal to straight girls/women. Maybe they wish they could have this universal sex appeal that crosses both genders like Adam’s. Sorry but as Randy said on the show..to the haters “you don’t got it” but Adam “got it, baby” so just deal with it.
Keith
@Chris: It has nothing to do with his appeal to straight girls/and women (BTW there’s Clay Aiken). It has to do with the way he sings. Some people don’t like it. Gays can be overly critical sometimes very really does it have to do with a performer’s appeal to straight people.
If Adam ever denied being gay, that would create a whole nother poo poo storm.
Chris
@ Keith..No please, Clay Aiken is such a poor example for sex appeal. Whereas Adam Lambert oozes sex appeal and I think his singing is just fantastic. He has such range. But if it’s his singing that you don’t like, then, yes everyone is entitled to his own opinion.
moshe rabeynu
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Rob Cross
@Jim:
You my friend, are the most intelligent person I have ever come across. FOR YEARS I have been questioning the constant need to be our own worst enemies. I laugh at the screams for acceptance when we can’t even accept ourselves.
kevin (not that one)
Lambert isn’t a trailblazer in the way a Rufus Wainwright or Sufjan Stevens is, but he is young still and has loads of talent.
My standards are fairly high and I prefer musicians who write their own music and are overall well-rounded artists. I generally hate mainstream artists, but I’d say that Lambert has a very bright future ahead and has the potential to make some truly forward-thinking music.